How Many Victims Died at the Hands of the “Dating Game Killer”?

You know a true crime tale is genuinely intriguing when it is constantly evolving and new evidence is being uncovered, even after the focal point of the story has been in prison for decades.

That is certainly what’s happened in the case of serial killer Rodney Alcala, also known as the “Dating Game Killer.” Alcala has been behind bars in California since 1979, but, as recently as September 2016, the sordid story of his crimes was still unfolding.

In September 2016, authorities in Wyoming charged Alcala with the 1977 murder of Christine Thornton, a 28-year-old Texas woman who was killed and buried while she was on a road trip almost 40 years ago. Thornton was six months pregnant at the time of her murder. She is the latest victim to be linked to Alcala, nicknamed the “Dating Game Killer” because he appeared on TV’s The Dating Game in 1978. (He actually won, too).

Alcala has been in prison since 1979 for the murder of a 12-year-old girl in California. In the years since his incarceration, he has been linked to seven additional murders, including this most recent case in Wyoming.

Investigators believe, however, that the 73-year-old Alcala is responsible for many more deaths than even the eight he has been charged with so far. In fact, it is estimated that the serial killer may be responsible for up to 130 murders.